Tips to Prevent Freezing Pipes

Prevent your pipes from freezing

• Allow a faucet to drip slightly (lukewarm water) to minimize freezing.
• Disconnect all outside garden hoses.
• Install an insulating cover over all outside faucets.
• Wrap pipes near external walls and in crawl spaces with pipe insulation or heating tape.
• Close all windows near water pipes.
• If you can’t close the air vents in your crawl space, cover them.
• If you have a basement, heat it.
• Install weather sealing, caulk, or tape to your windows.
• Insulate outside walls and unheated areas of your home.
• If you are going to be away from your home for an extended period, shut off the water supply valve to your washing machine.

If a pipe freezes

• If a faucet or pipe inside your house freezes, you can thaw it using a hair dryer. (For safety purposes, avoid using a hair dryer around standing water.)
• To thaw a frozen pipe, heat water on the stove, soak towels in the hot water and wrap them around cold sections of the pipe.
• When thawing a pipe, start thawing it nearest to the faucet.
• Make sure the faucet is turned on so that the melted water can drip.

**If you have any concerns regarding the prevention and recovery of frozen pipes in your home, contact the Murfreesboro Water Resources Department at 615-848-3209.